Consequences on the use of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis to prevent acquisition of human immunodeficiency virus: A scoping review

Abstract

Background: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) are fatal communicable diseases,  the continuing spread of which, globally, is mainly through sexual intercourse. To address this phenomenon, the World Health  Organization (WHO) proposed oral Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP). The Who’s motive behind this initiative was to prevent the  transmission and spread of HIV infection. This is vital, because the measures used to prevent HIV infection, is where the treatment ends;  therefore, it requires supplementation. Regardless of its benefit for preventing and reducing the spread of infection, reportedly there are  consequences for using oral PrEP.

Objectives: This study aims to explore the existing scope of knowledge about the consequences on  the use of oral PrEP to prevent acquisition of HIV.

Methods: A scoping review was the method used to fulfil the objectives of this study.  The study followed the framework of Arksey and O’Malley, using the five key steps, namely identifying the research question, identifying  relevant studies, study selection, charting of data and collating, summarising, and reporting of results. The database used to identify relevant literature was Science direct, content server, African journal, Google scholar, JSTOR and EBSCO delivery service (EDS). The  timeframe for articles chosen was 2010-2022.

Results: The relevant selected articles yielded one broad code, namely consequences on  the use of oral PrEP to prevent acquisition of HIV, and two sub-codes, risk behaviours and health burdens, six fine codes, namely  decreased condom use, increased STI diagnosis, unwanted pregnancies, complexity of treatment which is time consuming, PrEP-related stigma, and risk of ARVs drug resistance.

Conclusion: Results of this study have shown that the use of oral PrEP should be with caution as  it does have consequences. Therefore, it is of paramount importance for healthcare professionals to reinforce health education prior  to dispensing HIV PrEP to the clients.